Colosseum

The Colosseum gets its name from the Greek for kolossos, meaning giant. It’s the largest amphitheater ever built and when built it held between 50,000-80,000 people. Funnily, the exit was known as a vomitoria, Italian for vomit, because they spew all 50,000+ people out in a matter of 15 minutes. Think of today’s stadiums, even if it’s a projectile, pretty impressive.

Amazingly, given its size, it was built in only eight years. Wowsers. Though some gladiators fought voluntary, most were criminals, prisoners of war, or slaves fighting for their freedom. If a gladiator, who would fight 2-5 times/year, were able to survive for three years, they could win their freedom. This was exceedingly rare.

The lesser told story is that there were female gladiators! Did you know? What sexism. How has this story never been told? Women could only fight other women. The Romans may have been all about a murderous rampage, but don’t ever say that the murders we’re even steven🤷‍♂️

Next up, the Vatican/Sistine Chapel.Læs mere